The Central Bank of the UAE introduced a new symbol for the dirham in March 2025 to establish a unified representation of the national currency. Previously abbreviated in various forms such as AED, Dhs, or Dh, the new symbol aims to standardize usage similar to global currencies like the dollar ($), euro (€), and pound (£). Although not yet approved by Unicode, the symbol is expected to appear on keyboards, devices, and digital platforms once integrated into global character systems.
Designed with inspiration from the UAE flag and Arabic calligraphy, the symbol resembles a capital “D” with two stylized horizontal strokes. The Central Bank has issued detailed usage guidelines, stating that the symbol should appear to the left of numerical values, match the height and weight of surrounding numbers, and never be combined with abbreviations like AED. It may be used in black or white for clarity and can be color-adjusted for branding only if legibility is preserved effects or decorative changes are prohibited.
The symbol will be gradually introduced across payment interfaces such as ATMs, pricing labels, online shopping platforms, and cheque books, where it must appear before numeric amounts but not replace the written word “dirhams.” It will also be featured on future notes and coins. However, it should not be used in logos, splash screens, or promotional materials, maintaining the same respectful treatment as the national flag.
